Four tips to help prevent falls in the home

Prue Salasky

Senior Helpers, a national in-home care provider, reports that one out of three adults, age 65 and older, falls each year, but fewer than half of them talk to their healthcare providers about it. It's a largely preventable health problem.

Get an eye checkup - at least once a year and get glasses updated as needed. Consider getting a pair with single vision distance lenses for activities such as walking outside.

Safety proof the home - reduce tripping hazards, such as loose rugs; add grab bars in shower/bath/next to toilet; ensure stair railings are in place; and improve lighting throughout home.

Review medications - have a doctor or pharmacist review medications/prescriptions for side effects, such as dizziness or drowsiness.

"When seniors fall, they usually develp a fear of falling, even if they're not injured," says Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers. "That fear can easily turn into a senior choosing to limit their physical activity, which in turn increases their risk of falling again."

Fall stats:

Nearly 20,000 older adults died from fall injuries in 2008.

Fall-related fractures occur at more than twice the rate for older women than for older men.

More than 90 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls; white women have a significantly higher rate than black women.